Lawmakers demand apology from MDC's president Eduardo Padrón

A day after Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón ignited a war of words by blasting four local lawmakers, the other side fired back.

In a sign of growing backlash, the response wasn’t limited to the targets Padrón initially criticized for opposing a key MDC funding bill. Instead, the four were joined by seven other members of the Miami-Dade legislative delegation in co-signing a letter that called Padrón’s statements "something we cannot and will not tolerate."

"The kind of uncivilized discourse that emanated from such a respected community leader is something we all are compelled to condemn," read the joint letter written by Miami-Dade’s legislative delegation chairman, Hialeah Rep. Eduardo "Eddy" Gonzalez.

The lawmakers hoped to have their letter published by the Miami Herald’s editorial board — a response intended to address unusually blunt remarks Padrón made to the paper on Tuesday.

All but one of the co-signers — Hallandale Beach Democrat Joe Gibbons, whose district extends into Miami-Dade — were Republicans. Seven other House Democrats declined to sign the letter. None of the seven could be reached for comment.